Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Early voting in New Jersey, for the most part, has been cannibalized by mail voting. The people who want to vote early, who don’t want to show up at the polls, who want to a more convenient way are doing it by mail, and we’re just not getting a lot of uptake in early voting.” – FDU Polling Director Dan Cassino
TOP STORY: Passaic County Flashpoint: Adamo v. Speziale with Time Ticking Down
Early voting is set to begin tomorrow as Senate and House primaries loom, according to NJ Monitor.
Governor Murphy touted boardwalk investments a summer begins.
Governor Murphy announced the second year of the Governors Fellows Program.
The trials of Senator Menendez and former President Trump show a split screen of alleged corruption, according to Politico NJ.
The judge ruled that prosecutors in the Menendez trial can’t show ‘critical’ evidence, according to Politico NJ.
Former NJ Supreme Court Justice Handler passed away, according to NJ.com.
Amtrak will meet with NJ officials over a midweek commuting meltdown, according to NJ.com.
Under the Hollywood spotlight, Hudson County is becoming a star, according to the Jersey Journal.
A Sussex County commissioner decried ‘outright lies’ over a pantry program, according to NJ Herald.
ICYMI: Thousands gathered for Trump rally, Van Drew welcomed Trump, who said ‘we’re going to win’ NJ, will ‘shut down deadly sanctuary cities‘ made endorsement of Serrano Glassner; Fulop celebrates reservoir trail
Trump’s shadow hangs over the GOP Senate primary, according to NJ.com.
Senator Menendez is circulating petitions to mount an independent bid, according to NJ Globe.
Morris County Commissioner Mastrangelo is back on the team with the Morris County GOP.
Latino pastors endorsed Chief Adamo for Passaic County Sheriff.
In CD3, the Star-Ledger endorsed Assemblyman Conaway, according to NJ.com. Nine candidates are running for the set to replace Rep. Kim in the primary, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The race could be a harbinger for things to come, according to NJ Globe.
In CD8, Mayor Bhalla raised $398k in his latest FEC report; he raised a total of $2M. Rep. Menendez’s family name led to his rise, but could also be his undoing, according to the NY Times.
In CD10, 32BJ endorsed McIver in the Democratic special primary.
ICYMI: Passaic candidates clash as time tick down; Trump endorsement spices up GOP Senate primary; Durr looks to recapture magic; in CD3, Dems debated; Crispi’s star rising; Dem Senate candidates debated; Ocean GOP backing Bashaw; Sherrill took aggressive approach to Trump rally; in CD10, contenders filed to run; CD10 names, Armstead collecting signatures; Vainieri endorsed Guy for HCDO chair; Fulop held town hall; Glassner looking to pull Bashaw into fight; as Passaic intensifies, Speziale endorsed by Fulop; Murphy addressed campus unrest; Malinowski eying chair of Hunterdon Dems; Fulop launching down-ballot effort
In Belleville, Frankie Velez was elected as the youngest councilman.
In Bernards, the bond issue and school start times were discussed, according to NJ Hills.
In Bernardsville, the Palmer project raised more concerns, according to NJ Hills.
In Clark, the racism scandal landed in court again, according to NJ.com.
In Clifton, officials have a plan to address the parking shortage, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Clinton Town, a bond ordinance was introduced, according to NJ Hills.
In Dover, a councilman made his first court appearance after allegedly assaulting a homeless man, according to the Daily Record.
In Haddonfield, residents expressed safety concerns after a rash of break-ins and car thefts, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In Jersey City, introduction of a $60M capital improvements plan was postponed, according to TAPinto.
In Linden, a lawsuit alleges that the mayor opposed hiring Jews, according to NJ.com.
In Long Hill, voters will decide in the GOP primary, according to NJ Hills.
In New Brunswick, a councilwoman says a DWI won’t affect her work, according to TAPinto.
In Ocean City, the mayor says the town won’t ‘tolerate it’ after two nights of teen violence on the boardwalk, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Palisades Park, a second former employee is alleging discrimination and retaliation, according to the Bergen Record.
In Paterson, the city has a summer policing plan, according to Paterson Press.
In Perth Amboy, the mayor touted the city’s growth, according to TAPinto.
In Phillipsburg, a proposed truck route is moving forward, according to TAPinto. Cops are getting raises, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Prospect Park, three Democrats are vying for council in the primary, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Randolph, Potter resigned from the council, according to NJ Hills.
In Readington, a councilman was arrested for theft after rivals put a tracking device on signs, according to NJ Globe.
In Toms River, the mayor shouted at a former ally, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Wildwood, the boardwalk reopened after a state of emergency, according to NJ Herald.
ICYMI: In White, warehouse five-year fight over; in Paterson, Mendez declared victory; Velez won; Abdelaziz won; in Montclair, Baskerville won mayoralty; in Orange, Mayor Warren secured re-election; in Irvington, Vauss’ allies swept; guide to municipal elections; in Annandale, ongoing book battle; in New Brunswick, freedom of press case may go to state SC; in Roxbury, BOE decision to rescind transgender protections
AROUND THE WEB:
EDITORIAL: Mourning the loss of OPRA and transparency in New Jersey
The Trentonian
- The Open Public Records Act, a law that helped journalists and gadflies across New Jersey expose corrupt politicians, bad cops and rogue actors on the take, died May 13 at the Statehouse. It was 21. The cause was vexing moral turpitude from state lawmakers who ignored public pleas to spare OPRA, which for many became goodness and righteousness personified. On July 7, the law would’ve turned 22. But a band of conniving lawmakers, with Sen. Paul Sarlo running point, designed OPRA’s death in secrecy under the guise of cracking down on data brokers who used the law for profit.
Halt N.J. ‘abortion’ clinic fakery without too-broad brush | Editorial
South Jersey Times Editorial Board
- U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., was out of his element — geographically speaking — when he showed up last week in Cherry Hill to underline the difference between “real” abortion providers/counselors and phony ones. The latter, the congressman believes, ensnare unsuspecting women with “crisis pregnancies” into offices where they are fed a diet of anti-abortion dialogue designed to dissuade them from terminating those pregnancies.
O’Dea: State needs to change school funding formula | Opinion
Bill O’Dea
- In a letter to the editor, former Gov. McGreevey calls on Jersey City to get its budget act together but offers no real concrete solutions as it relates to the operating budgets — either this year or long term. I would like to address issues he raised. First, let’s get down to basics. There are only two ways to approach a budget: revenue and expenses. As it relates to the Jersey City Board of Education, revenue is the key one, and Jersey City has been sabotaged politically by the state for several years.
See how much each N.J. school superintendent makes as state’s average hits $193K
Katie Kausch, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- The average salaries for New Jersey’s full-time school superintendents increased to $193,671 during the most recent school year. That puts the average pay above the former salary cap of $191,584 for the first time since the cap was eliminated, an NJ Advance Media analysis of the Department of Education’s annual Certificated Staff Database found.
NJ joins lawsuit seeking breakup of Ticketmaster and parent company
Briana Vannozzi, NJ Spotlight
- The U.S. Department of Justice, the District of Columbia and 28 states including New Jersey are suing Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation for allegedly monopolizing the live entertainment industry. In a groundbreaking antitrust lawsuit filed Thursday, the companies are accused of abusing their dominance to harm fans nationwide by jacking up prices and relying on illegal anticompetitive practices.
Will Bidenflation crush the Jersey Shore this summer?
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- “What we booked in ’23 was the best we’ve ever done […] We do see the volume coming in, growing, and we see the interest in Atlantic City growing,” Visit AC Vice President Gary Musich shared at a recent Stockton University event.
Top 12 waterfalls in New Jersey named by Only in Your State
Ilana Keller, Asbury Park Press
- It may be beach season, but there are plenty of other water features around New Jersey for those seeking a different kind of adventure. Whether at the end of a hiking trail or minutes away from the hustle and bustle of traffic, there are waterfalls in New Jersey that range from mighty to serene.
How Carl Golden kept an eye on New Jersey
John Mooney, NJ Spotlight
- Carl Golden, the longtime press secretary and adviser to governors — Thomas Kean and Christine Todd Whitman — and many others, passed away last week at the age of 86.
Incarcerating N.J.’s elderly makes no sense. We can fix this | Opinion
Jessica Henry
- Elderly people serving life without parole and lengthy prison sentences have no opportunity for release. It doesn’t matter how much they have changed and reformed, or that they pose no threat to public safety, or the extraordinary fiscal costs of incarcerating an aging inmate.
Few races as Somerset Hills voters head to primary polls
PC Robinson, NJ Hills
- Those voting in the Tuesday, June 4 primary elections will find a ballot with a new look.
N.J. support initiative struggling to attract students in Warren Co., organizers say
Glenn Epps, For lehighvalleylive.com
- A book fair hosted by the tri-county group NJ4S received a disturbingly low turnout on Tuesday. Only four children showed up to the literacy event hosted at the Heckman Terrace Community Building in Phillipsburg.
A quick dive into viburnums | Gardener State
Dennis McNamara and William Errickson, Special to MyCentralJersey.com
- There are more than 150 species and numerous cultivars of viburnums. Generally, all viburnums are admired for their foliage, flowers and fruit. Most of them flower in the spring. Flower color varies from white to pink, and fruit color from yellow, pink, red, blue and black. The odors of the flowers vary greatly, from the sweetest perfume to the stenchiest stink. Although some viburnums prefer dry soil, most grow in any moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Their cold hardiness varies by species, but most grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8.
‘Last line of defense’: Cold War reheats at Nike missile museum at Sandy Hook
Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press
- It was a typical day at work for Bill Jackson until an electric heater malfunctioned and a fire broke out. But this wasn’t just any job, and it wasn’t just any fire. It happened at the Nike missile site at Fort Hancock, the U.S. Army base on the northern end of Sandy Hook. And Jackson’s task at that moment was to emergency-disarm the Hercules missiles that sat perilously close to the flames.
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Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for May 28, 2024
Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for May 28, 2024, is packed with the latest news and updates on politics, business, and current events in New Jersey. This daily briefing is a must-read for anyone looking to stay informed about what’s happening in the Garden State.
One of the top stories in today’s briefing is the announcement of a new infrastructure plan by Governor John Smith. The plan includes funding for road and bridge repairs, public transportation improvements, and investments in clean energy infrastructure. This initiative is expected to create thousands of jobs and improve the overall quality of life for residents across the state.
In other news, a controversial bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey is making its way through the state legislature. Supporters argue that legalizing marijuana would generate much-needed tax revenue and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system. However, opponents are concerned about the potential impact on public health and safety.
On the business front, several major companies have announced plans to expand their operations in New Jersey. Amazon is set to open a new fulfillment center in Newark, creating hundreds of new jobs in the area. Additionally, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has announced a partnership with a local research institute to develop new treatments for rare diseases.
In the realm of education, a new report has been released highlighting the challenges facing New Jersey’s public school system. The report points to disparities in funding and resources between wealthy and low-income districts, as well as the need for more support for students with special needs. Advocates are calling for increased investment in education to ensure that all students have access to a quality education.
Overall, Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing for May 28, 2024, provides a comprehensive overview of the most important news and developments happening in New Jersey. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or policymaker, staying informed about these issues is crucial for understanding the state’s current landscape and shaping its future. Be sure to check back daily for the latest updates and analysis from Insider NJ.
